Narrow Victory For Team Derby
Team Derby Men’s Football 3rds fended off early pressure to narrowly beat Oxford Brookes 2nds 1-0 at the University of Derby.
Player-manager Ross Williams hailed his team’s spirit after coming away with their all important first win of the season. He said: “The mood in the dressing room was unreal. The boys are going to want more from games now.”
Derby struggled to maintain the ball in the first ten minutes of the first half as Oxford maintained a high tempo from the beginning. The pressure almost paid off soon after, but for a brilliant goal line clearance from Mukono. The subsequent effort was fired over the bar.
Oxford continued to create chances as the half went on. They almost took the lead when their forward was played onside, only to see his low effort to marginally wide.
It was a quick turn around for Derby as the soon got on the front foot. Their first chance came from a fine through ball from Hagel on the left hand side. Lamina, who was on the receiving end, tried to play the ball into the centre of the box but it crawled just wide of the post.
Derby had another great chance to take the lead soon after, when Dolby’s pass reached King who found himself one on one. Unfortunately he squandered the opportunity from close range.
It was business as usual in the second half with Derby pushing for that elusive first goal. 15 minutes into the second half, an effort from range rattled the crossbar, however King was there to head in the rebound to put Derby ahead.
Oxford pushed for an equaliser, but Derby’s goalkeeper Johnny Laffert was the hero on several occasions as he twice denied the opposing team. It was pretty comfortable from then on as they finished the game with a win.
BY DARION WESTWOOD (@DarionWestwood), AARON CURRY (@xAaronCurry) and Danny Masood (@DMasoodJourno)
